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‘Little Elvis’ shakes up the Kitsap County Fair

Brian Dent gets all shook up about Elvis Presley. When the 10-year-old hits the stage as “Little Elvis,” the audience follows suit.

Dent, a Bremerton resident, gyrated across the stage Aug. 25 at the Kitsap County Fair. Performing some of the King’s signature moves and singing renditions of hits such as “Love Me Tender” and “Heart Break Hotel,” Dent had the audience clapping, cheering and singing along.

Dent has been performing as Elvis on stage since the age of 5, when he sang at a kindergarten talent show. Since that time, he has performed at fairs, air shows, car shows and hundreds of other events.

He said he enjoyed performing as Elvis, especially when the crowds got loud.

“I always love it when the audience is screaming and yelling,” he said. “It makes me get more excited and happy.”

The first time heard he heard Elvis, he was 4 years old and asked his dad who the singer was. Sammy Dent, Brian’s father played all types of music, but Elvis captured his son’s attention immediately.

“I played some of Elvis’ music, and he said ‘That guy is good. Who is he?’”

For the younger Dent, there is something about Elvis.

“I think it is the style and the music,” he said. “I think he is good at singing and he has a cool look.”

The upbeat nature of the music can be contagious, Dent said. That’s why he enjoys bringing the music to community events such as the fair and other venues: It cheers people up.

“It is upbeat and gets the audience going,” he said.

Little Elvis has built a following of the course of his young career. His father said he sees the same faces at many of the shows. At the fair, two women walked over and said they came just to see “Little Elvis.”

“He has a good following,” said Diana Pheasant, the entertainment director for the fair.

Pheasant said performers such as Dent made the fair more enjoyable for attendees.

“They are volunteering their time to give people a smile,” she said. “That’s what it is all about.”

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